1st Flag Raising - Iwo Jima February 23, 1945

Charles "Chuck" Lindberg, the last surviving flag raiser of the two flag raisings on the Island of Iwo Jima, during WWII, and my personal friend, passed away early this morning at the age of 86. Thanks to both he and his wife, I was inspired to write so many patriotic poems after 911. I will dearly miss him! Please keep Chuck and his family in your prayers. I wrote the this poem as a tribute to this great Marine and hero!

OLD GLORY WAVES GOODBYE

Our nation's lost an icon...
And "Old Glory's" lost a friend...
For Chuck Lindberg, our last flag raiser...
Will be missed by all of them!

He's now passed into history...
And will have long lasting fame...
Just like his fellow comrades...
Who were included with his name.

He was a proud Marine...
Like so many on that day...
Who raised up "Old Glory"...
And put her on display!

The event spurred on our country...
To end the job at hand...
And though the cost of Iwo Jima...
Sent a shock throughout our land!

Chuck Lindberg kept alive...
The spirit of that day...
And how "Old Glory" gave men hope...
When things had gone array!

But now Chuck's fallen silent...
And his Master's called him back...
For his work is now complete...
And history's now exact!

"Old Glory" won't forget him...
Because she was his friend...
And he loved her stars and stripes...
Right to his very end!

So now she'll wave goodbye...
To a man who loved her so...
And risked his life that others might...
Fight on to reach their goal!

©Copyright June 24, 2007 by Bob Beskar

Charles W. "Chuck" Lindberg, the last survivor of two teams of six marines each who raised the first and second flags Feb. 23, 1945 on Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima, died on Sunday June 24, 2007 at the age of 86. Chuck was a participant in the raising of the first flag. (Grand Forks Herald file photo by Jackie Lorentz)

Always Faithful Newsletter: Chuck Lindberg Memorial Issue

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